We don’t always get the Wi-Fi network to work as we would like. Sometimes, we may notice that the connection is cut off, that the coverage does not reach where we are interested, or that we have problems connecting certain devices. There are different factors that can come into play, but one of them is experiencing interference. We are going to talk to you about some examples of devices that you may have at home, you do not know what they affect, but they could limit your wireless connection quite a bit.
It’s about the Zigbee technology. Here we can name numerous devices that you may have distributed throughout your home. You may not use them constantly, but they are there and that can lead to interference and the Wi-Fi network working worse, with limitations and certain problems when connecting.
Zigbee devices, a problem for Wi-Fi
But what is Zigbee technology? It is, like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, an option to connect devices wirelessly. The problem is that it uses the 2.4 GHz frequency, which can cause interference with Wi-Fi wireless networks. It is something similar to what happens with Bluetooth or the microwave.
There is very varied devices that use Zigbee. For example, we can name door and window sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors or even smart plugs. Actually, the range of options is very wide. Even more so, when home automation is increasingly present and we have numerous devices of this type.
Therefore, you may have devices similar to the ones we have shown at home. You don’t know that this technology affects Wi-Fi and, therefore, you are not aware that it can generate interference to other devices that you connect in your daily life, such as the router itself, a computer, television, mobile…
These interferences can affect, especially, when the signal is very weak. It can cause a device to be disconnected directly or the speed to be so limited that you cannot use it normally and you have to use a repeater, network cable or any other solution, probably thinking that the problem is only poor coverage.
Avoid interference
Now, what can you do to prevent Zigbee devices from affecting your Wi-Fi network? Something basic, something essential, is move those devices away of the equipment you are going to connect to the Internet. For example, don’t put a temperature sensor right next to the router. Nor near the television, computer or any other device you are going to connect.
Ideally, these devices that can generate interference with each other are as far away as possible. It will help you avoid problems when you connect to the wireless network, you will make the connection work better and, ultimately, you will avoid those conflicts when they use the 2.4 GHz frequency.
Another thing you can do is connect your devices to 5 GHz. It is an alternative frequency and you will have less interference. Of course, keep in mind that it is not the best if you are going to connect very far from the router, since it is more sensitive to the distance and possible obstacles that may exist, which will also limit the connection.
Therefore, as you have seen, the technology Zigbee, something that is present in a wide variety of home automation devices, such as motion or temperature sensors, can affect the Wi-Fi network. You may have problems connecting devices and you should take measures to prevent this from happening. You can always have Internet throughout the house.
